Noel Gallagher and Serge Pizzorno 'Back the Bid'

With their respective bands set to rock Wembley Stadium over the coming days, Noel Gallagher and Serge Pizzorno showed their footballing colours by taking time out from rehearsals to back England`s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Serge once harboured aspirations of playing for his beloved Leicester City, and Noel`s passion for football and all things Manchester City is legendary so the pair were keen to register their support at www.england2018bid.co.uk and help in England`s campaign to host the world`s greatest football tournament.

Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher said:

'Playing gigs in England, and in particular at Wembley, is always an amazing feeling with the fans that come to watch us creating an electric atmosphere. The buzz the nation would create if we were to host the World Cup in 2018 would be incredible - England lives and breathes football, from a professional level through to guys going out for a kick about with their mates and kids in the playground.'

'I`m proud to be supporting the England 2018 campaign and would encourage the entire nation to get behind it as well.'

Leicester City fan Serge Pizzorno said:

'The entire band is delighted to get behind England 2018. Everyone in England loves football and the tournament would create a huge wave of passion throughout the country.'

'We`re also really excited about Leicester bidding to become a Host City. The opportunity for England to host a World Cup is really amazing and the thought of games being played at the Walker`s Stadium is incredible.'

Noel and Serge become the latest high profile names to join the official support campaign, which was launched by David Beckham earlier this month. It aims to secure two million signatories by the time the official bid is submitted to FIFA in December 2010. To back the bid, simply log on to www.england2018bid.co.uk